Drawer

ABSTRACT

A drawer having a handle is provided with lighting elements. Arranged on a front panel, LEDs are provided as lighting elements between two fastening elements that hold the handle on the front panel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/DE2014/000303,filed on Jun. 16, 2014. Priority is claimed on the followingapplications: German Application Nos. 10 2013 010 089.5, filed Jun. 18,2013; 10 2013 010 600.1, filed Jun. 26, 2013; 10 2014 005 715.1, filedApr. 22, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Filed of the Invention

The invention is directed to a drawer having a handle which is providedwith lighting elements and arranged on a front panel.

2. Detailed Description of the Prior Art

Drawers of the type mentioned above are known in diverse embodimentforms. Since the lighting elements are generally operated at lowvoltages for safety reasons, a power supply is generally providedoutside the drawer so that an electrical connection is needed betweenfurniture holding the drawer and the drawer. In addition, the frontpanel of a drawer of this type should not be disfigured by unsightlyelectrical connections for the lighting elements. This does not poseproblems when the bar handles are mounted on the front panel because, inthis case, electrical connection cables can be guided though bore holesconcealed by the bar handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Inside the drawer electric conductors are guided from the fasteningelements to the side parts of the drawer. In particular, the idea is toform these conductors through connection plates through which thefastening elements, particularly screws, pass to ensure an electricalcontact on the one hand and in order to securely hold the connectionplates, for example, on the inner back side of the front panel on theother hand. There are no problems in electrically insulating thefastening elements and connection plate from the front panel of thedrawer.

Possible alternatives are cable connections and optionally printedcircuit boards, conductor paths, or the like, which are used when amulti-terminal electrical connection is provided for the lighting meansso that the latter can be connected in groups.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, LEDs are provided aslighting elements between two fastening elements holding the handle onthe front panel.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the side parts are providedwith current-carrying conductors and, on the back side of the drawer, acircuit can be closed via plug-in contacts. When slid into furniture,electric contact is made and the LEDs are lit. When the drawer is pulledout, the circuit is interrupted and the LEDs are extinguished. Oneadvantage of this solution is the simple constructional layout becausecables, conductor paths, or the like can be used in a simple manner asconductors.

In one embodiment of a drawer of this kind, the current-carryingconductors are formed by a metal rail that at least partly forms theside parts of the drawer.

Alternatively, the electric conductors can be guided through the sideparts of the drawer and provided with plug-in contacts on the edge sideof the front panel, which close a circuit on the front side of thedrawer with mating parts which are fixed to side walls of a piece offurniture receiving the drawer.

Plug-in contacts of this type can be formed in many different ways. Forexample, it is possible to use known spring contact switches in which anelectrically conducting reed is guided into a receptacle of a matingpart to close an electrical contact.

In a further constructional configuration, it can be provided that thefastening elements engage in end caps between which a handle sleeve withthe LEDs is held. In a simple manner, handle sleeves can be providedwith various LED arrangements and held between identical end caps.

In a further embodiment, the end caps can be made of metal and areelectrically insulated from the fastening elements when the latterconduct current.

In a further embodiment form, the end caps are made of plastic with ametal insert. The metal insert can then serve to conduct current whenthe fastening means engage in the metal insert.

The embodiment examples of drawers according to the invention, which arementioned above, permit a two-terminal and, optionally, also afour-terminal power supply to the LEDs. In particular, when it isdesirable to enable diverse ways of wiring the LEDs, plug-in contactscan be provided between the handle and the front of the drawer inquantities sufficient for the required wiring. It is intended that theseplug-in contacts are covered by the handle and are therefore invisiblein the installed condition and are accordingly not unsightly.

In a particularly preferred type of power supply, a metal,resiliently-mounted roller that rolls on a conductor path is providedbetween a side part of the drawer and a side wall of a piece offurniture receiving the drawer for an electrical power supply. Thistransmission of power from the furniture to the drawer allows theelectrical contact to be kept closed also when the drawer is pulled outor pushed in so that the LEDs are permanently illuminated. In this case,the roller is advisably held in a holder and the holder is fixed to aninner side of the side wall of a piece of furniture receiving thedrawer. The conductor paths are provided at the outer sides of the sideparts of the drawer in a corresponding manner.

In one embodiment of a power transmitting arrangement, a plurality ofrollers are provided inside a holder, or a plurality of rollers arearranged on an electrically insulated axle. However, it is preferredthat a holder also receives only one roller.

In this regard, it can be further provided that the roller is loaded bya leaf spring or a spring clip and that the leaf spring or the springclip is fixed at one end to the holder. The roller is then penetrated bythe axle mounted in elongated holes.

To avoid soiling, the circumferential surface of the roller is profiled.A profiling of this type in the form of ribs, noses or the like willensure reliable electric contact with the conductor path even if thedrawer is used frequently and the conductor path or roller is exposed todirt.

If the roller and axle thereof are hardened, their life will also besufficiently long.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The essence of the invention will be described more fully with referenceto the drawings in which only embodiment examples are depictedschematically. The drawings show:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a front panel with a handle according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the front panel according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view;

FIG. 4 is a section along line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of detail V from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an isometric diagram;

FIG. 7 is a detailed top view in partial section;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top view of a spring contact switch with spacerplate;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a handle;

FIG. 10 is a section along line X-X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a section along line XI-XI in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an isometric diagram of the handle;

FIG. 13 is an isometric diagram of an end cap of the handle according toFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the side of the end cap located inside thehandle according to FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a section along line XV-XV in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is another side view of the end cap;

FIG. 17 is a further embodiment form of a handle in front of the frontpanel in a top view;

FIG. 18 is a section along line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlargement of detail XIX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a rear view of the front panel;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of detail XXI, XXI in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a partially broken-away isometric diagram of a drawer betweenthe side walls of a piece of furniture receiving the drawer;

FIG. 23 is a top view;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of detail XXIV, XXIV in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a front view;

FIG. 26 is a side view partially broken away;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of a holder with a roller for a powertransmitting arrangement;

FIG. 28 is a bottom view;

FIG. 29 is a section along line XXIX-XXIX in FIG. 28; and

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of the section along line XXX-XXX in FIG.28.

A first embodiment example of a drawer according to the invention isdescribed referring to FIGS. 1 to 8. A front panel 1 of a drawer isshown with a bar-shaped handle 2 arranged on the front panel 1. In thisembodiment example, the handle 2 is configured as an open-bottomedhollow profile supported on the front panel 1 and in which LEDs arearranged as lighting elements between two fastening elements 3, 4, whichin this case are two thread screws, penetrating the front panel 1.

The current supply for the LEDs in the handle 2 is effected via thefastening elements 3, 4 and is therefore invisible from the front. Thefastening elements 3, 4 further penetrate a connection plate 5, 6 ineach instance. These connection plates 5, 6, as electric conductors,extend on the back side of the front panel 1 beyond the side parts 7, 8of the drawer to the edges of the front panel 1 (compare FIGS. 6 and 7),where they are provided with contact blades 9, 10 which project from theback side of the front panel 1.

When the drawer is closed as is shown in the illustration, the contactblades 9, 10 of two spring contact switches 11, 12 close a circuit for apower supply of the LEDs in that they engage, respectively, in areceptacle 13, 14 of the spring contact switches 11, 12 so as to conductelectricity.

The receptacles 13, 14 of the spring contact switches 11, 12 arefastened to side walls 15, 16 of a piece of furniture receiving thedrawer. In addition, the distance between the spring contact switches11, 12 and the side walls 15, 16 may be varied, if required, by spacerplates 17. The above notwithstanding, conventional wiring leads from thereceptacles 13, 14 to a power source, not shown, which serves to supplypower to the LED's when switched on when the drawer is closed.

Depending on the material of the front panel 1, it may be advisable toelectrically insulate the fastening elements 3, 4 and the connectionplates 5, 6 from front panel 1 (see FIG. 5). To this end, the fasteningelements 3, 4 are guided through the front panel 1 in insulating sleeves18. Further, insulating pieces can be placed beneath the connectionplates 5, 6, also in the form of two-sided adhesive strips which, apartfrom electrical insulating, also fix the connection plates 5, 6 to theback side of the front panel 1.

In the center between two end caps 21, 22, the handle 20 shown in FIGS.9 to 12 has an open-bottomed handle sleeve 23 with LEDs. Two fasteningelements 3, 4 in the form of thread screws that penetrate a front panelengage in the end caps 21, 22. Pins 26-28 protrude from the end caps 21,22 in direction of the handle sleeve 23 for connecting the end caps 21,22 to the handle sleeve 23 and engage in corresponding receptacles in aninsert 29 fixed to the handle sleeve 23 (see FIGS. 10, 11 and 13).

When the end caps 21, 22 and handle sleeve 23 are made of metal,electrical insulation is required if the fastening elements 3, 4 conductcurrent. In one embodiment, each end cap according to FIGS. 13 to 16 hasan insulating sleeve 32 in a bore hole in a reinforcement part 34protruding from the closing plate 33 on the handle sleeve side. Theinsulating sleeve 32 is penetrated by the shank 35 of a thread screw 36that fixes the end cap 31 to a front panel. Further, the shank 35 isguided through an insulating clamp 37 which is snugly inserted at leastpartially into a recess in the side of the closing plate 33 on thehandle sleeve side. The thread screw 36 is fixed against the insulatingclamp 37, by a nut 38 held in the insulating sleeve 37 so as to be fixedwith respect to rotation relative to it. As a result of theseconstructional steps, the front panel, not shown, of the drawer,possibly provided with electrical conductors, reinforcement part 34 andinsulating clamp 37, are clamped between the nut 38 and the head 39 ofthe thread screw 36.

For an electrical connection of the LEDs provided in the handle sleeve23, the insulating clamp 37 is provided with a slot 40 through which asolder lug 41 projects. An eyelet penetrated by shank 35 is connected tothis solder lug 41 inside the insulating clamp 37.

A further embodiment example of the electric connection of a handle 45is described referring to FIGS. 17 to 21. The handle 45 is substantiallyU-shaped seen from the top. In the center piece 48 joining the two legs46, 47, a plurality of LEDs 49 are arranged so as to light up the frontpanel 50. The handle 45 is fixed to the front panel 50 by two threadscrews 51, 52 projecting into the legs 46, 47.

Provided in the legs 46, 47 are contact sleeves 53 which are inserted ininsulating pieces 54 so as to be electrically insulated from one anotherand from which the LEDs 49 are supplied with current inside the handle45. Contact pins 55, 56 protrude from the front panel 50 ascomplementary to the contact sleeves 53, penetrate the front panel 50,and are held so as to be electrically insulated from one another ininsulating pieces 57, 58 on the back side of the front panel 50.

If plug-in contacts of this type are provided between the front panel 50and the handle 45, the quantity of circuits supplying the LEDs withcurrent can be increased in a simple manner. Three circuits with acommon return, therefore, four contact pins and contact sockets, areprovided in the embodiment example, for connecting three groups of LEDsof different colors.

The further power supply, for example, to a handle which is wired forthis purpose, will be described further referring to FIGS. 22 to 26.

FIG. 22 shows a drawer 60 between two side walls 61, 62 of a piece offurniture receiving the drawer 60. Arranged at the inner side of theside wall 62, shown partially broken away, are three holders 63 forresiliently mounted metal rollers 64, which are preferably hardened andprofiled along their circumference. These rollers 64 can roll alongthree conductor paths 65 on the outer side of the side part 66 of thedrawer 60 when the drawer 60 is pulled out or pushed in.

As a result, LEDs in a handle 67 can be continually supplied withcurrent.

For a common return, for example, a holder 68 is also provided with aroller at side part 61, which roller rolls along a conductor path 69 onthe side part 70 (see FIGS. 23 and 26).

The conductor paths 65, 69 can be connected via further conductor pathsarranged on the back of the front panel 71 to contact pins according tothe above-mentioned embodiment example.

FIGS. 27 to 30 shows an enlarged view of a holder 75 with a roller 76. Acomparatively elongated housing 77 has a substantially U-shaped crosssection. The roller 76 is rotatably supported in the housing 77 on anaxle 78. The roller 76 and the axle 78 are preferably made of a hardenedmetal. The bearing support of the axle 78 is effected in elongated holesthat extend perpendicular to a conductor path on which the roller 76rolls. To produce a reliable electrical contact, a leaf spring 79 or aspring clip loads the roller 76 which is secured at one end to thehousing 77.

A cable 80 can be connected to a metal leaf spring 79 for the powersupply when the housing 77 is made of plastic. In this case, there is noneed to provide for an electrical contact between three holders 63arranged next to one another.

If the housing 77 is made of metal, a current can also flow from theroller via the axle, the housing 77 and the cable 80 connected to thehousing. The leaf spring 79 or the spring clip can then be made ofplastic.

Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodimentthereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutionsand changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and intheir operation, may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expresslyintended that all combinations of those elements and/or method stepswhich perform substantially the same function in substantially the sameway to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention.Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/ormethod steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosedform or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any otherdisclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a generalmatter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A drawer comprising: a front panel; a handleprovided on the front panel; two fastening elements that hold the handleon the front panel and at least one LED provided between the twofastening elements.
 13. The drawer according to claim 12, furthercomprising: side parts of the drawer provided with current-carryingconductors; a back side of the drawer; and plug-in contacts provided onthe back side of the drawer.
 14. The drawer according to claim 13,wherein the current-carrying conductors are guided through the sideparts of the drawer and provided with plug-in contacts on an edge sideof the front panel that close a circuit on a front side of the drawerwith mating parts fixed to side walls of a piece of furniture configuredto receive the drawer.
 15. The drawer according to claim 12, wherein thefastening elements engage in end caps between that hold a handle sleevewith the at least one LED.
 16. The drawer according to claim 15, whereinthe end caps are made of metal and are electrically insulated from thefastening elements.
 17. The drawer according to claim 15, wherein theend caps are made of a plastic with a metal insert.
 18. The draweraccording to claim 14, wherein plug-in contacts are provided between thehandle and the front panel of the drawer.
 19. The drawer according toclaim 12, wherein a metal, resiliently-mounted roller, which rolls on aconductor path, is provided between a side part of the drawer and a sidewall of a piece of furniture receiving the drawer, and configured as anelectrical power supply.
 20. The drawer according to claim 19, whereinthe roller is loaded by a leaf spring or a spring clip, and in that theleaf spring or the spring clip is fixed at one end to a holder.
 21. Thedrawer according to claim 19, wherein the roller is held in a holder,and in that the holder is fixed to an inner side of the side wall of apiece of furniture receiving the drawer.
 22. The drawer according toclaim 19, wherein a circumferential surface of the roller is profiled.23. The drawer according to claim 20, wherein the roller is held in theholder, and in that the holder is fixed to an inner side of the sidewall of a piece of furniture receiving the drawer.
 24. The draweraccording to claim 23, wherein a circumferential surface of the rolleris profiled.
 25. The drawer according to claim 14, wherein thecurrent-carrying conductors are connection plates.
 26. The draweraccording to claim 13, wherein the plug-in contacts are contact blades.